Outstanding Alumni - 2009
Paul Hedtke
Bemidji State University Graduate 1981
Mr. Paul Hedtke graduated from Bemidji State University in 1981 with a double major in Physics and Mathematics. While a student at BSU, Mr. Hedtke was selected to the Argonne National Laboratory Undergraduate Research Participation Program. During this time, he published a paper in the American Institute of Physics journal "Review of Scientific Instruments," his first of many published articles that would occur throughout his career. Mr. Hedtke has spent his career in engineering, product design and business development, first at General Dynamics, then at Hughes Aircraft and for the past eleven years at Qualcomm Incorporated. Throughout Mr. Hedtke's career, he has held many leadership positions and currently serves as Senior Director of Business Development for Qualcomm at their San Diego headquarters. He was selected as Engineer of the Year at General Dynamics Convair Division in 1987 from a pool of approximately 2000 engineers. He led a project that established Qualcomm's initial business presence in Europe in 1999-2000 and then led a project that established the company's initial presence in wireless health care from 2002-2003. He currently leads a project to develop and launch a wireless health services company for Qualcomm. In addition to his degree from BSU, Mr. Hedtke also completed the Executive Program for Scientists and Engineers at UC San Diego in 1992 and the Anderson Graduate School of Management and Executive Marketing program at UC Los Angeles in 1994. Mr. Hedtke has been involved in personally and financially supporting San Diego area public schools. He and his wife, Tammi, have one son Joshua. They make their home in San Diego, California.